Window.



J. ALSFASSER.

WINDOW.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 11, 1912.

Patented Aug. 27, 1912.

COLUMBIA PLANDURAPH C0 WASHINGTON. D. c:-

JOSEPH. ALSIFASSER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

WINDOW.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 27, 1912.

Application filed January 11, 1912. Serial No. 670,564.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH ALsrAssnR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in \Vindows, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to windows, and

more particularly to those adapted to be automatically closed when exposed to heat.

The principal object of the invention is to provlde a rslmple, efficient and lnexpenslve automatlcally closing WlIldOW'.

More specifically the object of the invention is to provide improved means for transfication, but more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a sectional view of a window shown with the features of improvement provided by the invention; Fig. 2 is a detail view of the clutch. plate and connecting link; Fig. 3 is a side view of the same; Fig. 4 is a detail view of a fusible link of the preferred construction.

This invention contemplates a window having two movable sashes, one of which moves downwardly to close and the other upwardly to close, the sashes being normally balanced by counter-weights and the downwardly movable sash being provided with a releasable connection between the counterweights and the sash, whereby the counterweights become disconnected from the sash and become attached to the upwardly movable sash to close both of the sashes when the lower sash is exposed to heat.

The present invention is an improvement upon the invention disclosed by the patentgranted to the applicant on Aug. 1, 1911, No. 999,357 on the application filed April 8th, 1910, Ser. No; 554,244. It has been found in practice that when means are provided to retain the clutch plate upon the lower sash, that the movement of the rod through the clutch plate is apt to engage the plate and to cause the rod to be gripped at a time when a gripping action is not desired.

By providing means for positively holding the clutch plate in contact with the lower sash this difiiculty is obviated.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the invention is illustrated as being applied to a window designated generally by thenumeral ,10, having a pair of vertically movable sliding sash members 11 and 12. One of the sash members as 11 moves downwardly to close, and the other sash member, as 12, moves upwardly to close.

The window and the sashes are preferably of a type known as fire proof, and in the present exemplification of the invention are shown as comprised of sheet metal to form the sashes and the frames. It is contemr plated that any desired or suitable fire proof construction may be employed, and the present invention may be applied to windows of any desired type or construction.

Both of the sash members are provided with the usual counter-balancing weights 13 and 14, which are adapted to move vertically in the side frame, and are connected to the sashes by means of the sash cords or chains 15 and 16, which pass over pulleys at the top of the frame in the well known manner. It is to be understood that a counter-balancing weight is connected to both of the sashes upon each side thereof, although in the exemplification of the invention shown by Fig. 1 only one of the weights for each sash is shown. The chains or the sash cords 15 for the lower sash are led downwardly through the hollow stile portion of the sash, and. are joined at the bottom by means of a fusible link 17, such, for example, as that shown by F ig. 4. This link is preferably composed of fusible material 18, which protrudes through an opening 19 in the lower cross piece of the sash 11, and end members 20 which engage the end Walls of the opening 19, and which are connected to the sash chains 15 on the inside of the sash frame and compress the fusible material between the other ends because of the weight of the counterbalance weights and the lever action of the end members 20. It is evident that the fusible material 18 is disposed on the outside of the lower sash so that it will be subject to the action of the heat on the outside of the window. As soon as the heat is sufiicient to melt the fusible material 18, the end or clamping members 20 are drawn through the opening 19 by means of the weights 13, which are connected to the chain 15.

In order to cause the interengagement of the weights of the lower sash with the upper sash when they are released from the former, the upper sash is provided with a rod 22 which is fastened at the side of the sash and extends downwardly in a vertical direction adjacent or preferably through the top of the lower sash and preferably in close proximity to the chain 15 of the lower sash member. Positioned upon the lower sash member is an apertured clutch plate 23, through one of the openings 24 of which the rod 22 is adapted normally to slide, and having another opening 25 spaced from the first opening through'which the sash chain 15 for the lower sash is passed. This clutch plate rides normally upon the lower sash, and isadapted in such position to permit the rod 22 to slide through the opening 24 when the upper and lower sashes are relatively moved. To connect the clutch plate with the sash chain or cord 15 a link 26 is provided which is also inserted through the opening 25. The upwardly extending portion of this link 26 is inclined from a vertical position and formed at the upper end with a loop or hook 27 by means of which the chain 15 is engaged. The other portion of the link is bent downwardly under the clutch plate. 23, and up over the end remote from the opening 24, and around the said opening on the upper side of the clutch plate forming a loop or hook 28, which extends around the opening 24, and which engages the rod 22 when this end of the link is moved laterally. The object of this hook 28 is to retain the link in the proper position and to prevent the lateral displacement of the link with respect to the plate. This link is preferably composed of a resilient or spring metal, and the inclination of the upper portion from the vertical position is for the purpose of pressing the clutch plate 23 downwardly, for it will be evident that since the chain 15 is normally under tension, it will tend to draw the'upper end of the link 26 in a vertical position which will cause the clutch plate 23 to be pressed downwardly about the opposite end of the plate and around the rod 22 against the lower sash member. It has been found that unless such a means is provided, the clutch plate will become engaged by the rod 22, as it slides through the opening, and may even cause such an engagement of the clutch plate with the rod as to result disastrously when one of the sash members is moved. By providing this means for positioning the clutch plate upon the lower sash, this difliculty is obviated, and it is only when the releasable connection between the lower ends of the sash chains 15 is severed that the clutch plate 23 will be placed in operative engagement with the rod 22.

In operation, as soon as the link 17 is fused, the lower sash 11, if it is in a raised position, falls of its own weight until the counter-weights 13 are released, and would fall of their own weightif it were not for the clutching connection. As soon, however, as the connection between the sash chains 15 jwhich support the weights and the lower sash is released, the link 26, which is connected to the clutch plate 23, inclines the latter with respect to the rod 22, whereby it is engaged, and the counter-balance weights 13 of the lower sash are connected to the upper sash in such a' way as to tend to close the upper sash if it is open. It will also be seen that by this clutching device the weights from the lower sash are not permitted to fall even though their connection with the lower sash is released, thereby preventing any damage which they might do in falling.

What I claim is 1. The combination with a window having upper and lower vertically movable sash members, a counterweight and sash cord for each of said sash members, a vertical rod connected to the upper sash member, releasable connection between the lower sash and its sash cord, and a clutch carried by the last mentioned sash cord, the said clutch being normally pressed against the lower sash and being adapted to grip the rod upon the release of the connection between the lower sash member and its sash cord.

2. The combination with a window having upper and lower vertically movable sash members, a counter-weight and sash cord for each of said sash members, a vertical. rod connected to the upper sash member, releasable connection between the lower sash and its sash cord, and a clutch carried by the last mentioned sash cord, the said clutch being normally in sliding engagement with the said rod and pressed against the lower sash and being adapted to grip the rod upon the release of the connection between the lower sash member and its sash cord.

3. The combination, with a window having upper and lower vertically movable sash members, a counter-weight and sash cord for each of said sash members, a vertical rod connected to' the upper sash member, releasable connection between the lower sash and its sash cord, a clutch plate riding normally on the lower, sash member and sliding on the said rod, and means to pres the said plate against the sash member.

4. The combination with a window having upper and lower vertically movable sash members, a counter-weight and sash cord for each of said sash members, a vertical rod connected to the upper sash member,

releasable connection between the lower sash and its sash cord, an apertured clutch plate through which the said rod normally slides, and means in connection with the lower sash cord to press the plate against the lower sash.

5. The combination with a window having upper and lower vertically movable sash members, a counter-weight and sash cord for each of said sash members, a vertical rod connected to the upper sash member, releasable connection between the lower sash and its sash cord, a clutch plate normally positioned on the top of the lower sash member, and resilient means in connection with the lower sash cord to press the clutch plate against the sash.

6. The combination with a window having upper and lower vertically movable sash members, a counter-weight and sash cord for each of said sash members, a vertical rod connected to the upper sash member, releasable connection between the lower sash and its sash cord, a clutch plate normally positioned on the top of the lower sash member, and a resilient link connected to, the sash cord and normally in tension, the said link being effective to press the clutch plate against the sash.

7. The combination with a window having upper and lower vertically movable sash members, a counter-weight and sash cord for each of said sash members, a vertical rod connected to the upper sash member,

releasable connection between the lower sash and its sash cord, a link connected to the lower sash. cord, and an apertured clutch plate through one of which apertures the said rod normally slides, the said link being connected through another aperture and extending up over the plate to and being operative normally to press it down upon the lower sash, and to engage it with the rod when the said connection of the cord with the lower sash is released.

8. The combination with a window having upper and lower vertically movable sash members, a counter-weight and sash cord for each of said sash members, a vertical rod connected to the upper sash member, releasable connection between the lower sash and its sash cord, an apertured clutch plate adapted to be positioned upon the lower sash, the said rod being slidable normally through an aperture in the plate, and a link to connect the sash cord and the clutch plate through an aperture spaced from the other aperture, the said link having an upwardly eitten'ding resilient portion inclined outwardly from the rod and effective to press the plate normally against the sash.

9. The combination with a window having upper and lower vertically movable sash members, a counter-weight and sash cord for each of said sash members, a vertical rod connected to the upper sash member, releasable connection between the lower sash and its sash cord, an apertured clutch plate adapted to be positioned upon the lower sash, the said rod being slidable through one of the apertures, and the said lower sash cord being inserted through another opening, and a link inserted through the last named opening with an upwardly extending portion inclined away from the vertical and connected at the upper end to the, cord, the other portion of the link extending under the plate and up over the end remote from the aperture for the rod whereby the tension of the cord presses the plate normally down upon the lower sash.

10. The combination with a window having upper and lower vertically movable sash members, a counter-weight and sash cord for each of said sash members, a vertical rod connected to the upper sash member, releasable connection between the lower sash and its sash cord, an apertured clutch plate adapted to be positioned upon the lower sash, the said rod being slidable through one of the apertures, and the said lower sash cord being inserted through another opening, and a link inserted through the last named opening with an upwardly extending portion inclined away from the vertical and connected at the upper end to the cord, the other portion of the link extending under the plate, up over the end remote from the aperture for the rod, and having a hooked tip extending around the rod, the said tip being effective to prevent the lateral movement of the link with respect to the plate.

11. The combination with a window having upper and lower vertically movable sash members, a counterweight and sash cord for each of said sash members, a vertical rod connected to the upper sash member, releasable connection between. the lower sash and its sash cord, an apertured clutch plate adapted to be positioned upon the lower sash, the said rod being slidable through one of the apertures, and the said lower sash cord being inserted through another opening, and a resilient wire link inserted through the last named opening and having an upwardly extending portion inclined from a vertical. line through said plate and connected at the upper end to the cord, the other portion of the link extending under the plate, up over the end and around the opening through which the rod slides, the tension of the cord upon the upwardly extending portionbeing effective to press the of two subscribing Witnesses, on this 6th day plate normally against the lower sash, and of January, A. D. 1912.

the link being operative, when the said releasable connection is released, to incline JOSEPH ALSFASSER' 5 the clutch plate to engage the rod. Witnesses:

In testimony whereof I have signed my K. W. WONNELL, name to this specification, in the presence :EsMEE WALTON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

